Our Blog

October 28, 2019

Pro Bono Week 2019—Connecting with Communities

Last week, during the CBA/CBF’s 15th Annual Pro Bono Week, hundreds of lawyers and other legal professionals in Chicago came together to celebrate the important pro bono work being done in our community and to learn more about new opportunities to make an impact in the year ahead. Whether you were able to participate in one of the events or not, there are countless ways to get involved and make a difference, and the CBF is here to help.

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October 21, 2019

Ambitious New Strategic Plan to Guide Illinois Courts

The Illinois Supreme Court earlier this month formally released a comprehensive new Strategic Agenda for the Illinois Judicial Branch. The new plan, developed and approved by the Illinois Judicial Conference, sets a forward-looking agenda for the coming years with strong commitments to advancing access to justice and innovation among the centerpiece goals.

“The CBF commends […]

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October 18, 2019

Pro Bono Week to focus efforts on city communities in need

Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
By Maddie Kilgannon

The Chicago Bar Association and The Chicago Bar Foundation are geared up to host Pro Bono Week 2019 starting Monday, honoring lawyers’ pro bono efforts and highlighting the impact of their work in the community.

Read the article at Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.

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October 17, 2019

What if I told you…?

…there was a magic potion that will give you a happier, healthier and longer life. Who wouldn’t want that?

Well, it turns out that potion indeed does exist, and all of us who are lawyers and legal professionals can easily take advantage of it. And no magic is required. So, what is it?

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October 8, 2019

CBA and CBF Aiming for Significant Legal Regulatory Reform with Creation of New Joint Task Force

The Chicago Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Foundation have announced the creation of a first-of-its-kind Illinois task force that will work to identify regulatory reform recommendations to provide enhanced access and more affordable legal services to the public, while also working to make the practice of law more innovative and sustainable for lawyers.

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September 13, 2019

MEGservationsGood for Everyone: Pro Bono and Veggies Go Mainstream

By Margaret Benson | Executive Director, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services

Pro bono is like veganism. Although it’s good for you and benefits society, people have been skeptical. But now both practices are popular enough that even people who don’t do them claim they do.

It wasn’t always that way. Back in the stone ages of the legal profession, before email, business processes and data analytics, many law firms didn’t have much interest in providing direct legal services to low-income clients. While some handled pro bono law reform cases through organizations like the ACLU and Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, most firms didn’t think their attorneys should handle direct legal services for poor people.

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September 11, 2019

Pro Bono Network

Want to do pro bono work and looking for training, support, backup, flexibility, camaraderie, and malpractice insurance? Then Pro Bono Network is for you! Come to the Pro Bono Network’s fall training sessions to learn how PBN can help you provide legal services to seniors, veterans, survivors of violence, people with disabilities, and families in […]

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September 10, 2019

CBF Mourns the Death of Marca Bristo, Disability Rights Leader and Founder of Access Living

We were saddened to learn that Marca Bristo, who founded Access Living in 1980, passed away on September 8, 2019. For nearly four decades under her leadership, Marca built the organization into a leading disability rights and service organization. She was a warrior and a trailblazer. A fearless advocate, Marca fought for […]

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August 19, 2019

Voluntary Bar Associations and Adapting to a Changing World

Bob Glaves is my friend and mentor. So, while skeptical, I grant him the benefit of the doubt when he tells me that the Bobservations readership numbers millions, spanning continents. “Huge and fabulous and, many people are saying, the best ever,” Bob observes of Bobservations.

In any event Bob’s taking a well-deserved break. He’s asked me to contribute a post. Presently, I believe Bob is traipsing about the Wisconsin woodlands. I hope he’s relaxed of mind and surely not reliving the double-doink, ad nauseam.

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August 1, 2019

JEPJustice Entrepreneurs Project Accepting Applications

Are you a newer lawyer interested in obtaining the skills and resources necessary to build an innovative and successful law practice? Are you interested in making a positive impact on your community as a social entrepreneur? If yes, consider applying to the Justice Entrepreneurs Project!

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